Nichole Bennett
The University of Texas at Austin
"Your weaknesses can sometimes be your strengths, if you just know how to wield them."
Career Roadmap
Nichole's work combines: Science, Acting & Theatre, and Communicating / Sharing Stories
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Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Here's the path I took:
High School
Lugoff-Elgin High School
Bachelor's Degree
Biology/Biological Sciences, General
Clemson University
Graduate Degree
Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
The University of Texas at Austin
Doctorate
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication
The University of Texas at Austin
Here's the path I recommend for someone who wants to be a Natural Sciences Managers:
Bachelor's Degree: Biology/Biological Sciences, General
Graduate Degree: Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Doctorate: Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication
Learn more about different paths to this career
Life & Career Milestones
My path in life took a while to figure out
1.
When I was in primary school, I wanted to be a marine biologist and explore the unknown.
2.
While in college, I knew I wanted to study biology. I wasn't sure whether I wanted to do medicine or biological research.
3.
I did some summer internships studying fire ants (in South Carolina and Argentina) and birds (in India) and realized that I wanted to do ecological research.
4.
Climate change was a big question in biology, so I set out to get my doctorate studying how butterflies are responding to climate change.
5.
I suffered a lot in graduate school and had a really unsupportive advisor. I also realized I didn't really want to be a science researcher. I was much more interested in science communication.
6.
I left with a Masters and worked out in the "real world" teaching kids and adults coding. I learned that I loved teaching. I also started doing improv and realized the big role creativity plays.
7.
After talking with my current advisor, I realized I wanted to go back to school to study science communications and help training programs for scientists get better and better.
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Messages from Teachers:
While working to becoming a biology researcher, I heard that I didn't have the focus for a scientist. I was too interested in combining other fields with science, like doing a science radio show or producing an outdoor lecture series.
How I responded:
Having diverse interests and being able to bring disparate fields together is something I now count as a strength. In my job now, I get to bring art back to the sciences and help scientists remember their humanity. I also get to use my background in the natural sciences to help bring rigor to the field of social science. Your weaknesses can sometimes be your strengths, if you just know how to wield them.
Experiences and challenges that shaped me